Morgantown, West Virginia – Before there was Graeson Malashevich or Wyatt Milum or Doug Nester or Corbin Page at West Virginia University, a talented running back from Spring Valley High School in Huntington decided to make that three hour drive on I-64E and then straight up I-79N to Morgantown to play for his home state.
Owen Chafin, a 5’9 200 pound redshirt running back for the Mountaineers, was the first in what’s becoming a long line of players coming from Spring Valley High School to West Virginia University.
Call him a trailblazer, an innovator, a trendsetter, Chafin’s decision to play for his home state was perhaps the spark that ignited a wildfire in Morgantown.
At Spring Valley High School, Chafin was sensational. Not only did he help lead the Spring Valley Timberwolves to a 13-1 record, the Class 3A State Championship Game and the No. 2 ranking in West Virginia as a senior, he also finished with more than 4,200 career rushing yards and 210 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns offensively, and 120 career tackles, 15 sacks, eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries as a linebacker on the defensive side of the ball.
A two-time All-State and three-time all-conference performer, Chafin accomplished virtually everything a player could accomplish in high school. Now, at West Virginia University, Chafin continues to be an outstanding example of what it means to be a Mountaineer, earning Academic All Big 12 Rookie team honors and being a tireless hard-worker on the practice field.
Chafin started the trend of players going from Timberwolves to Mountaineers, and with continued hard work in practice, we hope to see him one day making his home state proud on Mountaineer Field.
